Prologue chapter 1.2
The moment when the three set sail for the remaining key.
Many years had already passed by since then Many encounters were made foreign monsters who were seen for the first time by Elridge.
Places that he never knew he existed strong foes faced and some memorable fateful encounters the time had already came for Elridge to get the final key to open the gates of Olympus.
"We already got three keys I never expected that it would take a lot of time to get the third key"*Elridge*
"Elridge your hair is turning gray"*Elgero*
"It seemed like I'm already getting old but don't worry about it I'm still at my prime after all I'm still forty three"*Elridge*
"Seems like we've been traversing the seas for nearly a decade now"*Lucius*
"I didn't expect that it would already be that long it felt like everything started yesterday" *Elridge*
"Enough with the talk were already here" *Elgero*
Drench the origin of the curse of Insanity
"Wow I didn't expect that this place would be so ominous" *Elridge*
"Don't let your guard down you might get affected with insanity even messengers don't even approach this place" *Elgero*
"Elridge are you alright?, Elridge" *Lucius*
Elridge started to bleed through his eyes, rampaging emotions and nonstop tearing on his skin.
"Damn it he's already affected by the insanity quick Lucius purify him"
"The lord of light shall cleanse your sins" *Lucius*
"Ughhh it hurts, make it stop" *Elridge*
"Curse cleanse" *Lucius*
"Elridge, Elridge!"
In Elridge's eyes he saw the light fade as he slowly passed out because of the pain the insanity had caused him.
Out of nowhere Elridge is in a place similar to the inside of Elgeros core but the only thing is that there is no Elgero in it only Elridge.
"Where am I?" Suddenly a flash of unknown memories flooded Elridge's mind.
"Ugh it hurts"
"Aghh.. this memories aren't mine make it stop"
Countless memories were shown, a waste land and a man bleeding In Front of him, a woman who was killed In Front of him, and a memory where he was rescued.
Eventually the flooding of memories stopped as Elridge was released from the pain of the memories that flooded to his head.
"Ugh, what was that?" Elridge gave off a relieved look while lying down on the floor.
"Just what is happening"
A lot of time had already passed since Elridge was stuck in the white space.
"How long has it been there's no door for me to go out means that I can't leave this place"
"Sigh"
The white space started trembling suddenly the floor on the space shattered and made Elridge fall on a never ending abyss of water.
"Elri-...."
"W…. Up"
Voices? No just….
"Wake up, why aren't you waking up!"
Elridge eventually woke up to a slap that Lucius gave him.
"How long are you trying to sleep"*Lucius*
"What happened?"*Elridge*
"You were affected by the insanity" *Elgero*
"If it wasn't for me you could have died long ago" *Lucius*
"How long since I passed out?"*Elridge*
"You were gone for an entire month" *Elgero*
"Wait what how?" *Elridge*
"It seems like the insanity cursed had damaged your mind greatly but it was thanks to your strong mental strength that you managed to hold on until I casted curse cleanse" *Lucius*
"Normally when an average person somewhat survived the insanity it took them a year to recover but you were different so we didn't expect that you would recover fast than the general average" *Elgero*
"Hmm I see anyways my cheeks stings just how long have you guys been slapping me?" *Elridge*
"Everyday" *Lucius* & *Elgero*
An irritated expression can be seen on Elridge's face "You don't have to slap me everyday! When you already know that it might take some time for me to recover!"
Lucius eventually pointed out to Elgero who is the mastermind behind it.
Elridge got even more irritated and eventually threw Elgero outside the ship deck.
"Anyways let's move so that we can get our hands on the last key and head to Olympus" *Elridge*
The three of them started to explore the island with Lucius magic. Everyone traversed the island safely without the worry of getting affected by the insanity.
After some time traversing the polluted island a non polluted part of the island can be seen and a large mansion is in the middle of it.
"What is a mansion doing in the middle of the island and why on earth is this part of the island not polluted?" A confused Elridge asked questions non stop as he was wondering so many things that aren't possible in the first place.
"Calm down even we didn't know the cause of this let's just get in there and meet the duchess of curse for the key"*Lucius*
"You know about the person who owned the mansion?" *Elridge*
"Stop the questions already and yes all of the messenger knew who owns and guards every key to Olympus" *Lucius*
It seemed like Elgero was staying silent again. He's been like this since last year just what is happening to him.
The group eventually marched towards the mansion to meet the duchess of Curse.
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My core is running out of mana I can't maintain to the outside world.
Once the mana in my core is depleted I will die eventually. Maybe I can still interact with them moderately but the longest I can before I depleted my mana is around five months.
I hope that I can still reach Olympus with the remaining mana I had.
I also need to warn Elridge beforehand about what Lucius is scheming but I need to do it when Lucius isn't around.
Let's just stay silent for the time being and find the best timing to tell Elridge everything.
The group had been walking for hours, eventually reaching the mansion.
When Lucius is about to knock the door a strong explosion can be seen and someone was thrown on the door eventually sending both Lucius and the person that was thrown at the door.
"Lucius!" *Elridge*
A young man in white cloak with a moderate muscular build was revealed walking out the mansion.
"Elridge he's a threat don't let your guard down" *Elgero*
"I know I can also sense that this guy is strong" *Elridge*
Eventually the man ignored Elridge and charged to Lucius location.
"Crap he's fast Elridge" *Elgero*
Elridge was fast enough to outran the man and blocking it's attack aiming for the lady.
He's strong but I can easily block his attacks it seems like he is after this woman who eventually is the duchess of curse.
"What are you doing move aside" an agitated expression can be seen on the man's face.
The man eventually backed off as he felt that Elridge was the real deal.
"I'm sorry but I couldn't let you kill her I have some business with her" *Elridge*
"Be careful he is strong enough to resist my curse" *duchess of curse"
To think that he managed to resist a curse while I passed out for an entire month from the insanity tsk.
"Wind blade" a gust of strong wind came in Elridge way but it was easily blocked by Elridge.
"Amazing magic but it's weaker compared to Delia" Elridge counter attacked with a strong slash.
"Agh" the man eventually blocked Elridge's attack but by the look on his face he was damaged just by blocking his attack.
"To think that you can block my attack but this is still the beg-" Elridge was cut off halfway through his sentence when a massive explosion occurred.
"Explosion"
"Sword god spirit" A large reddish black aura formed around his body alongside with a giant spirit on his back.
"It seems like your going all out then I'm also going all out but before that what is your name"
"It's Kim hyeokjin"
"My name is Elridge and you shall remember my name"
Kim hyeokjin eventually rushed Elridge with his spirit, eventually slicing the mana around the spirit while Elridge stood there and was seen doing nothing.
"What an impressive move I will acknowledge you that you are next to Dianne in terms of strength"
Elridge eventually grinned as he was astonished by the move that Kim hyeokjin delivered as he had not seen any attack like it.
"HAAAAAA!"
The sword of the spirit eventually made contact with Elridge, a large debris was sent flying everywhere from his attack afterwards creating a large explosion.
"Huff… huff… huff it should take care of him" *Kim hyeokjin*
"Quick draw, dragon song"
Suddenly a reflection of red light can be seen afterwards a strong slash was hit on the spirit eventually slicing it in half.
"Aghhh" Kim hyeokjin can be seen coughing a large amount of blood after getting his sword god spirit get sliced in half eventually making him pass out.
"It seemed like I overestimated you"
Elridge was about to stab the defenseless Kim hyeokjin when suddenly a ray of light was struck aiming for Elridge.
"Get hyeokjin nim I'll stall this guy"
"Ray of stellar flare"
a countless ray of light causing a huge explosion on impact was fired on Elridge non stop while the other person grabbed Kim hyeokjin and fled away through the portal.
"Damn it they escaped" *Elridge*
The smoke caused by the ray of light eventually cleared out.
"Are you guys okay?" *Elridge*
"Yeah we're okay we set up a barrier when you guys were fighting" *Lucius*
"How's the duchess?" *Elridge*
"she was greatly injured but I managed to give her first aid her so she's fine for the time being"
"That's a good thing than her dying anyways what were those people they just came out of nowhere and escaped through a portal" *Elridge*
"I guess there's no hiding it" *Lucius*
Lucius went silent for a bit and looked at Elgeros core.
"Sigh, they were otherworlders" *Elgero*
"?!" Elridge clenched his fist at the same time giving off an angry expression.
"I should have killed them if I knew earlier" *Elridge*
Elridge eventually stomped the ground so hard out of anger that I caused a moderate earthquake around the island and waves outside the island.
"Calm down Elridge we're going to find a way to retrieve your friend when we reached Olympus so calm down" *Lucius*
Elridge didn't stop emitting strong blood lust to the point the living beings around them flew away.
"You guys take the duchess inside I'll be staying outside to catch some fresh air for the time being" *Elridge*
"Alright" *Lucius*
Lucius Elgero and the duchess eventually went inside and treated the duchess from her injuries.
While Elridge on the other hand stayed outside and had his anger released to his surroundings and eventually calmed down.
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"How are you duchess, are you okay now?" *Lucius*
"Yeah I'm okay now thank you Lucius" *Duchess*
"What actually happened, why were you attacked by otherworlders?" *Elgero*
"Seems like Elgero is reduced to a core haha, it's a long story" *duchess*
The duchess explained everything why she was attacked by the otherworlders.
"So you were saying that you got attacked because they were up to something?" *Elgero*
"Yeah that's what I came up to they were so hostile towards me and just trespassed to my property without any notice" *duchess*
"But it's weird why otherworlders just attack you out of nowhere when you didn't even do anything to them they even attacked you first" *Lucius*
"I was cought of guard that's why I couldn't defend myself but it's strange when I casted insanity on that guy a red board suddenly appeared on my face saying that his mental resistance was high and managed to resist my curse" *duchess*
"I see otherworlders sure have something that we aren't familiar with" *Elgero*
"Anyways, where is that Elridge guy that you guys were talking about?" *Duchess*
"He's outside getting some fresh air he should be coming any minute now" *Lucius*
Elridge knocked at the door letting the others know that he is coming inside.
"Speak of the devil he's here" *Lucius*
"You may come in" *duchess*
"Thank you then I'll be going in" *Elridge*
"Thank you for saving me I heard that your name is Elridge" *duchess*
"Yes madam my name is Elridge it's nice to meet you miss duchess" *Elridge*
"Stop with the formality and my name is not miss duchess it's selen" *selen*
"I couldn't afford to call the duchess such name" *Elridge*
"It looks like he had his noble attitude from the empire kicking in" *Elgero*
"Stop it just call me by my name and anyways I heard from them that your trying to go to Olympus" *selen*
"Yes I am" *Elridge*
"It seems like you went in here for the key as a payment for saving me I'll be giving you the key for free if it wasn't for your purpose for the key then I should have already died" *selen*
"Really? Can we really take the key?" *Elgero*
"Of Course because of this thing you managed to save my life, just give me a moment" *selen*
Selen started to chant with ancient language that only selen understand.
After the chant was finish the room became dark and a purple light can be seen on selen's hand.
The key was manifested on her hand and eventually gave it to Elridge.
"Thank you miss duchess we'll now take our leave" *Elridge*
"since the sun is already setting why not leave tomorrow morning and you guys stay for the night I also prepared dinner for us" *Selen*
"Then we'd gladly take your offer" *Elridge*
"Alright it's settled then I'll let the maid guide you to your rooms"
In a single snap a lot of puppets started appearing in maid outfits and eventually led us to our rooms.
After some time the others had dinner as the duchess said and we rested after we were done eating.
The morning came by and Elridge prepared themselves to take their leave to head for the gate to Olympus.
"Seems like you guys are already leaving before that I have something to give to elridge" *selen*
Selen was handed out a pendant by one of her puppets.
"Here take this, this should save you from a fatal hit take care" *selen*
"Thank you duchess we will now take our leave"
Elridge and Lucius left the island and started to sail west to the gate of Olympus as they already had four of the keys needed to open the gate of Olympus.
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Last Night after dinner.
"Selen"
"Yeah I already know Elgero"
"I couldn't warn Elridge since Lucius is always near him"
"I knew you know that I didn't gave out the exact details to why the otherworlders attacked me "
"Yeah you guessed it right it's because of Lucius"
"Yeah Lucius had contact with the gods in Olympus that's why I'm being careful around you"
"That's what I also thought so tell me what exactly Is the full details to why the otherworlders attacked you"
"The red board on my face was not lie neither of those weren't a lie but before I was attacked the same board appeared in my face and the board cover was named duchess extermination and something like information and rewards was put in it"
"That's weird something like that hadn't happened before maybe this is somewhat connected to elridge friend missing case"
"Yeah that's what I also thought of so why exactly Elridge wanted to go to Olympus? What's his purpose in that place?"
"He thought that he would find something that could help him transport to other world"
"But that's impossible even gods cannot go to the other worlds they are only limited to observing it"
"Yeah but I had some thoughts after I left Olympus completely, the gods might have did something for the otherworlders to come here"
"I see your thoughts might be right I wish I could help you but I can't leave this place"
"It's okay you don't really need to since our trump card to uncover the gods plans would be Elridge"
"I see then I already have something so that I could at least help our trump card"
"Don't tell me your giving that to him?"
"Yes"
"Sigh I see so you've already made up your mind do what you want I won't stop you"
"Well then let's see each other tomorrow"
"Alright I also need to get back to elridge"